Music part II
August 16, 2007 by Sebastian Mysko
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Continuing with my musical contribution, I’m highly recommending Resident Advisor (RA) to all lovers of electronic musical culture. Started by a group of Aussies in 2000, they’ve certainly realised the market potential and totally capitalized on it. Now in 2007, they are showcasing some of the finest musical journalism kicking about.
Rolphus’s latest comment on a review by The Guardian’s Charlie Brooker on club culture is a classic example of an RA user speaking their mind and in doing so, contributing what’s ultimately on the mind of most music lovers. This form of expression and knowledge of the industry is standard throughout the whole site and probably why it gets over 280,000 hits a month.
The site itself allows you to create a profile, enter competitions for massive events, read reviews, join forums and yes… free, quality, honest podcasts are available for download on a regular basis. Even if a particular act isn’t to your normal taste, give it a go – the mixes don’t ever disappoint.
Seb - your genuine enthusiasm for electronic music, and the cultural movement that surrounds it, is refreshing. It is rare to see such a quality within PR circles.
Resident Advisor has evolved into one of the biggest web resources around, specialising in electronic music across the board (although it does present a clear content bias towards the current popular trends). You are right - RA’s success has been a direct consequence of good journalism, something that is normally sporadic online, and the impressive podcasts.
My only concern is that RA lacks integrity. I have followed the site since its conception and feel that it now operates in the same space as publications like DJ Mag. Its popular, your statistics proved that - but does it contain original thought? Or is it simply just another portal for dance music promotion?
Sites like Test Industries, run by Richard Brophy, and Little Detroit are more specialised, but crucially they contain honest perspectives of a scene that is really exciting right now. RA will always have a place, the podcasts are a vital source of new music, but I feel it may have lost it’s spark. Your thoughts would be warmly welcomed.
Paul